Eugowra Investiture Awards 21 March 2025
Eugowra Community Centre
DEDICATION
This web page is dedicated to the 47 residents of Eugowra and members of the SES and RFS who received the Society’s bravery awards for rescuing their neighbours in the horrendous flash flood on the morning of 14 November 2022, without any concern for their safety.
The awards were presented by Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW, at a ceremony in the new Eugowra Community Centre on 21 March 2025.
The Society is aware that there may still be brave Eugowrans who also carried out rescues during the flood but whose names have not yet been put forward for awards. We would be very grateful if they could be nominated using the online form in the NOMINATE section of this website. They would be invited to receive their awards at Government House, Sydney, at the Society’s regular investiture later this year.
SONG “On the Hardest Days”
Performed at the investiture by schoolchildren and alumni of St Joseph’s Catholic School Eugowra
Set to music and accompanied on guitar by Mrs. Nerida Cuddy
One morning Ed the sheep got a nasty surprise,
Got swept right off his feet, a wall of water on the rise.
He didn’t lose his courage, He held his head up high.
He was tough, he was strong and he survived.
WO-OH. WO-OH
On a truck, at their front gates, on the roof or in a tree.
Old people, little babes, ev’ry body in between.
Helicopter, SES, everybody on utes and trucks,
Bravely headed round the town and changed everybody’s luck!
WO-OH. WO-OH
OH the people of our town, we are mighty, we are brave,
We got up and looked around for the ones we had to save.
We’re not going to give up, even on the hardest days,
Together we will help each other stay.
WO-OH. WO-OH
There’s so much to make us thankful, as hard as it has been,
A flood of love has carried us, and given what we need.
From all across the world, people sending love and care,
They give us all the strength to hang in there.
SCHOOL CHILDREN’S PICTURES OF THE FLOOD
By students of St Joseph’s Catholic School Eugowra. We thank the School Principal Mrs. Catherine Eppelstun for permission to publish these vivid images.
The destructive flood washed away thousands of precious things. People were terrified as they rushed up into attics, onto cars and onto steaming hot roofs. Finally helicopters came to the rescue.
Belle
They screamed in horror as the wave of water, larger than their houses, surrounded them. People scrambled to find safety. They watched helplessly as everything was washed around as if it was tumbling in a washing machine.
Pippa
We lost a town and a school but we are all strong.
Zac
The flood, by Taleesha and Katelyn
THE EUGOWRA FLOOD
Monday 14 November 2022
Extreme rainfall overnight in the Mandagery Creek catchment caused a sudden and violent flash flood that swamped Eugowra, sadly killing two people, injuring many, and destroying 90 per cent of buildings and many businesses.
It was described as a once-in-a-thousand-year weather event. The water level began to rise at 0400 hours and at 0900 hours an 8 metre ‘tsunami’ swept through the town.
The floodwaters were swift, terrible, cold, muddy and laden with dangerous debris. A half metre chop on the surface made swimming extremely difficult. Houses floated off their foundations and, together with drifting shipping containers, silos and vehicles, threatened to crush anyone in their path. An ambulance was swept into a roadside ditch where it was nearly submerged, with the occupants trapped inside. Residents were assisted from their front verandahs to vehicles along human chains of rescuers. Others were trapped inside their houses, sheltering in attics when timber floors exploded in the rising torrent.
Eugowra SES and RFS personnel immediately swung into action, wading through chest-deep water, door-knocking and evacuating residents to the showground in vehicles. At the showground, they set up an emergency evacuation centre, coordinated rescue efforts by mobile phone, triaged the sick and injured for aerial evacuation to nearby hospitals and administered care and comfort to distressed residents.
The flood intensified, and the rescue operation was nothing short of heroic. For over 24 hours local SES and RFS volunteers and residents worked side-by-side in teams carrying out dangerous in-water rescues, evacuating people from their houses and taking them to the safety of the pub, roofs of other houses, shops, garages, and the tops of water tanks from which they were eventually helicoptered to safety. Most rescuers had no training for a flood of this magnitude.
Later in the day, RFS and SES in-water rescue crews arrived from other regions with high clearance vehicles and specialised equipment, but even then, they were delayed by flooded creeks and tributaries. All the vehicles used in rescues had to have a person walking ahead to detect potholes and underwater snags and clear obstructions.
For days afterwards, civilians, SES and RFS crews toiled on, restoring water and electricity supplies, retrieving wrecked vehicles, stabilising dangerous structures and clearing out mud and debris from houses.
The flood rescue operation was a massive community effort. SES and RFS crews worked side by side with civilians, and the composition of teams varied throughout the day. Some rescuers were mentioned multiple times in the nominations received from the RFS, SES and residents of Eugowra for their bravery.
Many members of the Eugowra community, without formal training or specialised equipment, risked their lives on 14 November 2022 to save fellow Eugowrans. No doubt there are many other unsung heroes who were instrumental in saving lives on that fateful day, and then modestly got on with life. That’s the sort of community this is.
Photos courtesy of Kim Storey of kimstoreyphotographer.com.au
Photographs courtesy of Chris Watson of Farmpix.com.au
BRAVERY AWARDS
The Society’s awards were presented by the Society’s Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of NSW.
Official photography by Ms. Kim Storey of kimstoreyphotographer.com.au.
SILVER MEDALS
Eugowra RFS Brigade: Captain Bill Turner, Senior Deputy Captain Dallas Pearce, Firefighter Patrick Welsh and Firefighter Michael Miles.
Dallas Pearce, Bill Turner, Patrick Welsh and Michael Miles with Her Excellency the Governor
This RFS team drove the RFS Eugowra category 1 tanker from the onset of the flood, rescuing up to 60 residents in chest deep water without any thought for their own safety. Firefighter Miles’ expertise as an electrician enabled the team to check electrical connections before venturing into buildings. Captain Turner lost his home, butcher shop and car and Firefighter Miles’ business premises was damaged in the flood.
Case 2024.22
SILVER MEDALS
Mt. Pleasant RFS Brigade: Captain Alan Noble, Firefighter Lachlan Noble and Firefighter John Agustin
John Agustin, Lachlan Noble and Alan Noble with Her Excellency the Governor
This RFS team carried out dangerous in-water rescues in the brigade’s category 1 tanker, evacuating many residents from their homes to safety and participated in the cleanup operation for many days thereafter.
Over the following days they continued working to help residents, removing debris and washing out homes and businesses to start restoring some sense of normality.
Cases 2024.23
SILVER MEDALS
The Orange SES In-water Rescue Team: Tyler Johnson, leader, Grace Langlands, Oscar Meek and Zach Schneider
Zach Schneider, Oscar Meek, Grace Langlands and Tyler Johnson with Her Excellency the Governor
The team arrived on the High Clearance Vehicle driven from Orange by Ray Merz. Local emergency services were overwhelmed, and the Team were confronted with many distressed residents pleading for assistance to find loved ones. Their first task was to stabilise a suspected heart attack victim with the assistance of a nurse. They then proceeded into the flooded town and rescued residents before the water became too deep to go any further. They returned to the showground to assist townsfolk in setting up the shed as an emergency medical centre. Grace Langlands, a Registered Nurse assisted with the treatment of victims with multiple issues including shock, lacerations, fractures, hypothermia, dehydration, sunburn, heatstroke and exhaustion. They also assisted 2 helicopter teams to assemble equipment required to open roof spaces for those still trapped in their houses and radioed for equipment and supplies to be airlifted in for the 200 evacuees trapped at the showground. The team then went back in the water to assist with the ‘in roof’ rescue of a mother and infant and the rescue of many more victims still trapped in their homes.
Case 2024.49
SILVER MEDALS
The Orange SES City Unit: Nicholas Brown, Joshua Granger, Natalie MacFarlane and Timothy Thornton
Nicholas Brown with Her Excellency the Governor
Joshua Granger with Her Excellency the Governor
Natalie MacFarlane and Timothy Thornton were unable to be present.
The Orange City Team travelled from Orange to Eugowra in a ‘unimog’ High Clearance Vehicle, collecting evacuees along the way. For most of the journey, the road was flooded and a team member had to walk ahead of the vehicle to check the condition of the road surface, clear debris, cut trees and ensure that the current would not sweep the vehicle and its passengers away.
They checked in at the Eugowra pub, where a number of residents were sheltering on the first floor to add the details of those they had rescued to the general list. They then took their passengers to the Evacuation Centre at Eugowra Showground. The team members then attached themselves to other units for the rest of the day, doorknocking, assisting with medical emergencies, prepping residents for evacuation from their homes through fast-flowing flood waters to rescue vehicles, and then transferring them to the pub or to the showground.
Case 2024.49
SILVER MEDALS
The SES South-East Zone Team: Paul Diaz, Joshua Hurst, Ray Merz, Andrew Short and Justin Thomsen
Justin Thomsen, Andrew Short, Ray Merz and Paul Diaz with Her Excellency the Governor
The team set off from Yass to Eugowra but were blocked by floodwaters and had to be helicoptered in from Orange. While Ray Merz returned to Orange to fetch a High Clearance Vehicle, the rest of the team conducted grid searches of houses in Eugowra, removing trapped and injured residents by inflatables or carrying them through the flood.
Ray Merz drove to Eugowra and picked up the Orange City In-water Team along the way. The road was covered by 2 metres of floodwater which required team members to walk ahead of the vehicle, test the water depth and remove snags and debris and cut through trees blocking the road.
Case 2024.50
SILVER MEDALS
Senior Constable Tim Rogers, Probationary Constable Rebekah O’Connor and Judd McKenna
Judd McKenna, SC Tim Rogers and PC Rebekhah O’Connor with Her Excellency the Governor
Senior Constable Tim Rogers carried out numerous rescues in swift, chest-high water, initially by himself, then with Judd McKenna and the Eugowra RFS truck. He ended up on a rooftop where he coordinated helicopter rescues before he was ‘choppered out’ himself.
Probationary Constable Rebekah O’Connor carried out a number of rescues, and when the flood was at its height rescued an elderly woman, Di Garner, from her flooded home. She found a tree for them both to cling to, where they remained in the freezing flood for an hour before they were rescued by helicopter. During that time, they were close to being hit by a floating car full of people and a shipping container.
Judd McKenna rescued families with young children from rooftops and people trapped in cars, entering the raging floodwaters repeatedly using houses and sheds as landmarks to help him navigate. He worked with Senior Constable Tim Rogers and later with an RFS crew and other civilians to carry out more rescues.
Case 2025.4
SILVER MEDALS
Mackinley Den and Thomas Turner
Bill Turner accepting Thomas Turner’s medal, and Mackinley Den with Her Excellency the Governor.
Spontaneous volunteers Mackie Den (18) and Tommy Turner (16) worked together for 18 hours collecting residents, pets and livestock in a utility and driving them to higher ground. While rescuing an elderly lady, the utility started to float, and they nearly lost control. They rescued a lady who was clinging onto a pole for dear life. When the floodwater became too dangerous, they abandoned the vehicle and continued their efforts in an RFS truck with Phil Wykamp and his crew.
“The water was raging down there in the street, it was hard to believe. It was surreal, crazy.”
Case 2024.14
SILVER MEDALS
John Agustin, Patrick Welsh, Stephen (Snow) Jones and John Dukes
John Agustin received his silver Medal with the Mt. Pleasant RFS Crew, and Patrick Welsh received his silver Medal with the Eugowra RFS Brigade
BRONZE MEDALS
Greg Agustin, Matthew Park
Patrick Welsh with Her Excellency the Governor
Greg Agustin and Matthew Park with Her Excellency the Governor
John Dukes with Her Excellency the Governor
Matthew Park with Her Excellency the Governor
Stephen Jones was unable to be present.
SES members John Agustin and Stephen Jones, and RFS member Patrick Welsh were evacuating an elderly female resident in an ambulance when rising waters suddenly overwhelmed the ambulance and pushed it off the road against a tree. The rear doors could not be opened, trapping all three inside. John Agustin’s brother Greg was nearby in an SES vehicle and assisted Welsh to force the ambulance doors open. The team managed to get the elderly female out of the ambulance and through the window of the SES vehicle, as the water was rising rapidly. Greg Agustin tried to drive the crew to safety towards the showground, but the water was too strong. An RFS tanker then arrived on scene, and the crew assisted in moving the patient through the window of the SES vehicle to the RFS tanker. John Agustin then rescued two men, helping one into a canoe and taking the other to safety on the roof of a building. John was trapped there for several hours, where he assisted in the aerial rescue of other victims. He and Stephen Jones continued to assist with other rescues well into the evening.
John Dukes, the Deputy Unit Controller of the Eugowra SES Unit, doorknocked to alert residents and assisted in moving them to the Eugowra showground. He then returned to the town, was halted by floodwater and assisted by Matthew Park, a spontaneous volunteer, proceeded to wade chest deep to evacuate more residents. He continued with these rescue efforts for 24 hours without stopping.
Case 2024.13, 2024.16
SILVER MEDALS
Laurie (Truckie) Jones, Phillip Wykamp and Jacob Townsend
BRONZE MEDALS
Simon Moore, Craig South
Craig South, Simon Moore and Laurie (Truckie) Jones with Her Excellency the Governor. Phillip Wykamp and Jacob Townsend were unable to be present.
Phillip Wykamp, Simon Moore, Craig South, Jacob Townsend, and Laurie (Truckie) Jones worked as a team carrying out over 30 rescues in Phillip’s tipper truck. They rescued one elderly man who was pinned to the side of the truck by a floating ute, which they managed to shove out of the way.
When the tipper truck gave out, they joined an RFS truck with Matthew Park and others to continue with further rescues.
Rescues included a wheelchair bound woman, her carer, and numerous pets, which they moved to a tank stand for a helicopter rescue, an English couple who were terrified of snakes in the water and an older man who had suffered a heart attack.
Case 2025.4
BRONZE MEDALS
Ben Turner and Karen Gilchrist
Ben Turner with Her Excellency the Governor. Karen Gilchrist was unable to be present and Ben received her Bronze Medal on her behalf.
As the floodwaters rose, Karen Gilchrist assisted an elderly couple into their Landcruiser however, the level rose higher than expected, trapping them inside. Ben Turner ‘floated’ past and he and Karen helped the couple onto the vehicle’s roof and swam into their house to collect their medications. Karen and Ben stayed on the garage roof to reassure the elderly pair until they were rescued by helicopter.
Case 2025.4
BRONZE MEDAL
Joel Neville (unable to be present)
As the floodwaters rose, Joel Neville assisted his father, who had recently had both knees replaced, from their house to Joel’s utility, but a wave of water prevented him from opening the vehicle’s doors. Joel’s father lost his grip and was carried away, but Joel managed to swim to him and drag him back onto the roof of the vehicle. The flood continued to rise, and the father’s head was barely above water when John Agustin and Pat Welsh arrived in an RFS vehicle and pushed a canoe and a life vest over to them using a TV aerial they ripped off a neighbouring house.
Joel, John and Pat got the father into the canoe and Joel paddled him to safety on the roof of a nearby house. Joel stayed on the roof of the utility, and when the floodwaters subsided paddled his father to a parked bus where they spent the night.
Case 2025.4
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Anne South
Anne South with Her Excellency the Governor
Anne, her daughter Kirralee and her new grandchild Saige, plus a friend who was restricted in movement, were trapped in Anne’s house by rising water. Anne moved Kirralee (who had recently undergone a C-section) and Saige into the roof space via a ladder on a table and moved her friend onto a high bench. The friend fell off and Anne had to swim through floating floorboards, furniture and debris to lift her back on the bench. Kirralee and Saige were rescued by helicopter through a hole in the roof, and when Anne herself was rescued, she was found to be suffering from pneumonia.
Case 2025.4
LETTER OF COMMENDATION
Jason Smith and his horse ‘Bootleg’ aka ‘Boots’
Jason was unable to be present at the investiture
Jason and Boots were moving cattle on his farm to higher ground when they were hit by a wall of water. Jason phoned his stepdaughter to say they were in trouble, then rode Boots uphill through the water, but Boots lost his footing, went under, and the pair were swept away. They were caught briefly on a gate, then were stuck in a tree with Boots barely able to keep his head above water. Jason thought, ‘This is not where we’re going to end’, pulled on the reins, and Boots launched them both free. After a further 30 minutes, they reached a spot where they could stand, and Jason turned for home and tended to Boots’ wounds.
“When I think about it, I don’t think he would have got out without me, and I don’t think I probably would have made it out without him.”
Case 2025.4
THE SIR NEVILLE PIXLEY AWARD
Brayden Robinson (year 3) and Amber Robinson (kindergarten)
Brayden Robinson and Amber Robinson pictured with their father Mr. Anthony Robinson and Her Excellency the Governor
The Sir Neville Pixley Award is presented to young people who perform humane acts.
Braden and Amber were staying ‘safe’ with their grandparents when the flood came up through the floorboards. They scrambled onto a table, then onto the kitchen bench where the water rose above Amber’s head. Their grandfather was hit on the head by floating furniture, and in the confusion, Braden spotted a red fire truck and smashed a window to raise the alarm. They were rescued by Mackie Den and Tommy Turner.
Case 2025.4
TEAM AWARD
The Eugowra SES Unit: Joy Anthes, Greg Agustin, Mareea Agustin, John Anthes, John Dukes and Unit Commander John Agustin
The Eugowra SES Unit: Joy Anthes, Greg Agustin, Mareea Agustin, John Anthes, John Dukes and Unit Commander John Agustin with Her Excellency, the Governor.
Led by Greg Agustin and John Dukes the team coordinated the initial response to the flood and managed the whole operation, setting up the Emergency Evacuation Centre at Eugowra Showground, attending to sick and injured residents, triaging those that needed to be airlifted to hospital and providing care and comfort to distressed residents who had been rescued. The team worked for many days, both during the initial emergency and subsequent follow-up.
This is a new award, and the Eugowra SES Unit has set a high bar for other recipients in the future.
Case 2024.0
Royal Humane Society of NSW Councillors attending the investiture
Sandra Kyriakopoulos, Assistant Secretary; Kathy Merrick, Vice Chair; David Turner, Chair, James Smith AFSM Hon. Secretary; Michelle de Friskbom, Ambassador; John Hutcheson AM, Councillor; Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of NSW; Peter Stathis AFSM, Councillor; Sean Kearns, Assistant Commissioner NSW State Emergency Service; Mitchell Parker JP, Councillor and Ambassador Lead; Kyle Stewart, Deputy Commissioner NSW Rural Fire Service; Cheryl Steer AFSM, Assistant Commissioner Fire and Rescue NSW; Chris Honey, Hon. Treasurer.
Members of the NSW Rural Fire Service Eugowra Brigade attending the investiture
John Agustin, Patrick Welsh, Alan Noble, Bill Turner, Dallas Pearce, Lachlan Noble, Michael Miles, Kyle Stewart Deputy Commissioner NSW RFS, Kathy Merrick, Deputy Chair NSWRHS and Captain, Dangar Island RFS Brigade
Members of the NSW State Emergency Service and family members attending the investiture
All photos of the investiture were taken by photographer Kim Storey.
